Leafs pick Jeremy Bracco settles in with Kitchener Rangers

Just as the typical teenage world-beater might want to be an architect one day and a marine biologist the next, so too can a hockey prospect oscillate between the college and major junior paths.

That often gets overlooked in the great CHL-NCAA debate, as most recently illustrated by Toronto Maple Leafs second-rounder Jeremy Bracco leaving Boston College to step on to the first line of the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. In Bracco's telling, his outlook, and the endgame, has simply changed from the time he was an early Harvard commit, to a BC recruit putting up big numbers for the U.S. national team development program, to deciding to push his chips in with the Rangers.

"At first I made my decision to go there to BC and I was pretty firm with that," the 18-year-old said Friday, when he contributed a primary assist to the Rangers' 3-1 road win against the Ottawa 67's. "I thought it was going to be the right move at first. As time went along, I thought I was going in a different direction. That was when I re-evaluated and decided to come here.

"I understand people are going to feel a certain way about seeing me leave school," addedd Bracco, who played five games for the Eagles of Hockey East. "But over time, I've seen hockey evolve from my family's perspective and my perspective."

Bracco's parents, Mike and Vicki, met at Dartmouth College when his father was a goalie for the Big Green, so the appeal that the Ivy League had in the household should seem fairly self-explanatory. Then Bracco, who is now a compact 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, kept advancing, winning a spot in the NTDP and counting a gaudy 94 points across 65 games for the U.S. under-18 team. The Freeport, N.Y., native was seen a potential late first-rounder before the analytics-minded Leafs nabbed him late in Round 2 in June.

'Ultimately you're the guy who's doing the work' 

The Leafs front office is overrun with ex-OHL GMs — Mark Hunter, Jim Paliafito and Kyle Dubas. The move also puts Bracco a hour's drive from the GTA, but the 18-year-old made the decision independently.

"My parents, they met at Dartmouth and they were big on school," Bracco said. "That was kind of the mindset early. As I started to progress and it started to look like I could be a pro player, that changed.

"You have to do what's best for your career because ultimately you're the guy who's doing the work and the one who's busting your ass. Coming here, I felt that was going to be the right play for me and I am glad I did it. The boys have really taken me in and I'm excited for what's to come."

Bracco's arrival has fortified the forward depth for the Rangers, whose .906 point percentage tops the OHL. His elite skill was evident on his assist Friday, when he changed speeds to evade 67's defenceman Nevin Guy and make a zone entry in full flight before teeing up his centre and fellow NTDP alumnus Ryan MacInnis for a one-timed goal. Overage Brandon Robinson rounds out the troika.

"I think Jeremy is having fun with us," said Rangers coach Mike Van Ryn, who's almost reached the quarter-pole of his first season as an OHL head coach without a regulation loss at 13-0-3-0. "He's found chemistry on our power play, he's found chemistry with MacInnis and Robinson. I think he's getting better as a player. They are guys who kind of think alike. You need chemistry. Robinson is the guy who kind of goes and gets pucks back, and MacInnis and Jeremy are the playmaking guys."

A high-profile NCAA departure often goes to a team that traded for his major junior rights. The Rangers selected Bracco in 2013. It also didn't hurt that he's one of nine Americans inhabiting the dressing room at the venerable Aud in Kitchener.

"It's no secret that I talked to Jeremy's family a lot in the summer to try to get him to come," Van Ryn said. "Since we drafted him, we always had a line of communication. I think the familiarity has been good for him.

"The proximity to Toronto also helps out. If he keeps working the way he is, he will get signed."

Coincidentally, Van Ryn's hockey path involved going from college to major junior. Before building a productive NHL career, he left the University of Michigan in 2000 to play for the OHL's Sarnia Sting.

"I actually think it's easier for kids when do it earlier," Van Ryn related. "For me, I was one of the oldest guys on my team [as a 20-year-old]. I had already lived on my own for a couple years. I was a little more of a man than becoming one. I think the fact that he knew some guys coming in made it easier for him."

Bracco knows it's a long process to go from 18-year-old aspirant to fully formed pro. He's already been to two Leafs home games, trying to get an idea what could be his workplace.

"It was cool to see the fanbase and the historic Leaf logo and how everyone was behind the team and hockey. It was a cool experience and I hope I can be there someday."

One spin-off benefit from the move is Bracco has reacquired his preferred No. 97, which matches his birth year and the Phoenix Coyotes jersey number of his namesake, Jeremy Roenick. He wore 37 and 17 with the NTDP.

"With the program you wear 31-60 the first year and 1-30 the second year. I kept the theme going with a seven on my back, but it's great to have 97 again."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @naitSAYger.